Templater in Obsidian
Can I use templates in Obsidian to improve my digital garden workflow?
2026-02-08
Installed the Obsidian community plugin Templater.
Created properties template to use on files in my digital garden:
I have some files in my Templates folder already. This requires copying the empty template manually. I want to change notes that are already started.
I use a daily notes and not everything there becomes a stand alone note. So the decision about the format happens after the content has evolved. E.g. from an unpublished fleeting note to a seedling I want to put in my digital garden.
I know about Templater, but haven't used it.
Templater allows you to execute arbitrary JavaScript code and system commands.
It can be dangerous to execute arbitrary JavaScript code or system commands from untrusted sources. Only run code / commands that you understand, from trusted sources.
I don't know any JavaScript.
ChatGPT's 'help' to vibe code?
I gave ChatGPT the link to the Templater documentation and asked a few questions about whether Templater could do what I was trying to do and how to implement the template.
Despite having access to the documentation, the responses included fundamental errors:
- Using Templater methods instead of Obsidian's workspace methods to create the file constant.
- The command palette command for inserting the template using Templater.
- Identifying the source of the errors was human-error, not a mistakes 'it' was making.
The responses were right about:
- Being able to use Templater to add or modify YAML properties (frontmatter) in an existing note without rewriting the rest of the file.
What I did right:
- Using a teaching prompt to get ChatGPT to explain the code to me. The responses became helpful after I added the instruction:
Break it down across multiple outputs. Give me only one output at a time and don't move to the next output until I confirm I understand.
In response, ChatGPT asked me to apply the explanation to different examples and explain in my own words. While it was using the wrong methods, the application and code structure seems to be okay. I could understand the error that was made (though not that it was the error that needed to be fixed) and write something about about it here.
Remember, I don't know any JavaScript.